Conversations, talks, panel discussions and book launches organised by the School of Divinity’s new Scottish Network for Religion and Literature. All welcome. For enquiries, please contact Dr Lois McFarland: Lois.McFarland@ed.ac.ukSemester 1: Autumn 2025DateTopicWednesday 8 October 12:30-2pmSenate RoomRobert Crawford: Translating Ancient Poetry into ScotsPoet and academic Robert Crawford will be joining us to speak about translating the ancient Sumerian poetry of the priestess Enheduanna, believed to be the first ever named author, into Scots. He will also discuss the religious impulse in Scottish poetic tradition more broadly, from epic to psalm to haiku. Friday 10 October11am-12pmElizabeth Templeton Lecture TheatreLiving Deliberately through Existential DespairJustin McDaniel’s research is within Buddhist Studies and a broader study of human flourishing. In this talk, he explores two courses he teaches that ask students either to take on monastic vows (no tech for a month, no speaking or touching, food & dress restrictions, etc.) or read books cover to cover from 5pm to midnight in silence. It will discuss student experiences, and why turning off and learning how to single-task can lead to unexpected felicities and revelations. This is a joint event for Buddhist Studies and the Scottish Network for Religion and Literature.RegisterMonday 27 October 12-1pm Martin HallYehudis Fletcher on her book ‘Chutzpah: A Memoir of Faith, Sexuality and Daring to Stay’Yehudis Fletcher is an author, scholar and activist within the Charedi community. Her memoir explores the confrontation between her sexuality and the expectations of her family and her community. Faced with either losing the faith she loved or losing herself, Yehudis made the most daring decision of all: she decided to stay. This is a joint event between the Scottish Network for Religion & Literature, Edinburgh Jewish Studies, and the Religious Studies Research Seminar.Register7-8 NovemberMartin HallNew College Festival of Books and BeliefMultiple events and workshops for book-lovers of all faiths and none!Find out moreMonday 17 November4:10-5:30pmMartin HallDr Rebekah Lamb on John Henry Newman and the Ends of ArtDr Rebekah Lamb (St Andrews University) researches the ways in which art and aesthetics are distinctive and timely modes of theological and philosophical inquiry. This is a joint History of Christianity and Scottish Network for Religion and Literature seminar.Register This article was published on 2024-03-19
